NEWPORT Gwent Dragons will tune up for the Guinness Pro12 by welcoming the Scarlets to Rodney Parade.

The Dragons will host their Welsh rivals on Friday, August 21 (kick-off 7pm) – included in pre-season tickets and free for under-16s – and hope to confirm another pair of pre-season fixtures shortly.

The Rodney Parade side are also taking part in the Singha Premiership Rugby 7s – Welsh qualifying leg at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday, August 15 and finals night at the Twickenham Stoop on Friday, August, 28 – before the league campaign gets under way on the weekend of September 5.

Unlike England’s Aviva Premiership, the Pro12 will start before the World Cup although there will be a fortnight break once England 2015 kicks off and another week off on October 19 (the weekend of Wales versus Australia).

Ticket information for Scarlets friendly: The fixture is included in season tickets. It is free for under-16s, £10 to stand and £15 for seating.

Pro12 dates during World Cup period: round one – weekend of September 4 (Wales v Italy World Cup warm-up on Saturday, September 5), round two – September 11, round three – October 2, round four – October 16 (RWC quarter-finals), round five – October 23 (RWC semi-finals), round six – October 30 (RWC bronze match and final).